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Special Damages Calculator

Special damages are the financial losses caused by your injury — the quantifiable, out-of-pocket consequences that are separate from the pain, suffering, and loss of amenity covered by general damages. For serious injuries, special damages often dwarf the general damages component, particularly where lifetime care, accommodation, or substantial loss of earnings is involved.

This calculator provides a comprehensive special damages estimate covering all the main heads of loss: past and future earnings, care costs (both paid and unpaid family care), medical and rehabilitation treatment, equipment and aids, home and vehicle adaptations, and miscellaneous out-of-pocket expenses. The calculator handles past losses precisely and future losses using standard UK methodology (Ogden multipliers).

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Special damages calculator

Add up the out-of-pocket losses you can claim on top.

How This Calculator Works

Work through each section of the special damages calculation in turn. Past loss items use precise figures from the date of the accident to today. Future loss items use annual costs multiplied by the appropriate Ogden multiplier based on age and life expectancy. The calculator combines past + future across all heads of loss to give a total special damages figure.

Heads of Loss Covered

Loss of Earnings

Past loss (weeks off × net weekly earnings minus sick pay) plus future loss (annual reduction in earnings × Ogden multiplier). Includes loss of pension, employer pension contributions, and benefits in kind. The dedicated loss-of-earnings calculator covers this in more detail.

Care and Assistance

Care provided by paid carers is recoverable at commercial rates. Care provided by family members (gratuitous care) is also recoverable at commercial rates with a small discount, even where the family member wouldn’t actually charge — recognising the value of the care provided. For severe cases, lifetime 24-hour care can run to millions of pounds when projected forward using Ogden multipliers.

Medical and Rehabilitation Costs

Includes any private medical treatment you have had or will need (where NHS treatment is inadequate or too slow), physiotherapy, occupational therapy, psychology, prescription costs, and any complementary therapies that have clinical justification. Future medical costs are also covered — for example, the projected cost of joint replacement surgery decades from now.

Equipment and Aids

Wheelchairs, mobility aids, prosthetics, hearing aids, communication devices, environmental controls, and other equipment needed because of the injury. Where equipment needs periodic replacement (typical wheelchair life is 5-7 years), the lifetime cost is calculated using Ogden multipliers.

Accommodation and Adaptations

Home adaptations (stairlifts, ramps, wet rooms, widened doorways) or in severe cases a move to specialist accommodation. The calculation may include either the cost of adaptations to existing property or the difference in property value between current and required accommodation, plus moving costs.

Travel and Transportation

Travel to medical appointments (often at HMRC mileage rates or actual taxi costs), parking, public transport. For ongoing treatment over years, travel can total thousands of pounds. Vehicle adaptations (hand controls, hoists) may also be required.

Miscellaneous Out-of-Pocket

Clothing damaged in the accident, broken glasses, mobile phones, replacement of items you can no longer use (e.g., bicycles for a claimant who can no longer cycle). Holiday cancellations and lost deposits. Increased heating bills if you are housebound.

Past vs Future — Different Calculation Methods

Past special damages are calculated precisely — actual costs, receipts, evidence. Future special damages are calculated by annual cost multiplied by an Ogden multiplier. The multiplier depends on the claimant’s age, life expectancy, and the discount rate set by the Lord Chancellor (currently -0.25 per cent). For lifetime ongoing costs in young claimants, multipliers can exceed 60 — meaning every £1,000 of annual cost translates into more than £60,000 of lump sum settlement.

What This Calculator Doesn’t Capture

Special damages quantification is technical work — small differences in methodology produce large differences in settlement value. The calculator gives a directional figure but specialist solicitors arrange detailed evidence including forensic accountant reports for complex earnings claims, care experts for lifetime care assessments, accommodation experts for housing needs, and occupational therapists for equipment requirements. For severe cases, the actual claim value may differ from the calculator significantly.

Next Steps

For straightforward cases (modest injury, short time off work, limited treatment costs), the calculator gives a reasonable figure. For complex cases (severe injury, ongoing care needs, future loss of earnings), specialist solicitors and expert evidence are essential. No win no fee Conditional Fee Agreements cover the cost of expert evidence as a disbursement.

Common Questions

My family member has been caring for me — can I claim for that?

Yes. UK law recognises “gratuitous care” — care provided by family members without payment — as a recoverable head of loss. The calculation values the care at commercial rates (the cost of paying a professional carer to do the same work) with a small discount (typically 25 per cent) to reflect the family relationship. For severe cases requiring substantial family care, this can run to hundreds of thousands of pounds.

How do you calculate lifetime care costs?

A care expert (typically a specialist nurse or occupational therapist) assesses your current and future care needs in detail — hours per day, level of support required, type of carer needed. Annual cost is calculated at commercial rates. This is multiplied by the Ogden lifetime multiplier for your age. For a young severely injured claimant, lifetime care costs frequently exceed £2 million.

Can I claim for things I haven’t paid for yet?

Yes — the claim covers both past costs incurred and future costs reasonably anticipated. Future costs are quantified by expert evidence (consultant surgeon for future surgery, care expert for future care, equipment expert for replacement schedules). The claim accounts for the timing of future costs using Ogden multipliers and the discount rate.

What if my injury means I have to move house?

Accommodation claims are technical. The classic approach used the Roberts v Johnstone formula but this was largely replaced after the Court of Appeal decision in Swift v Carpenter (2020). The current approach typically involves either the cost of adapting existing property to your needs, or the additional capital cost of moving to specialist accommodation, plus moving costs and any loss on sale of current property. Specialist accommodation experts assess this.

How accurate is this calculator?

The calculator gives a directional estimate based on standard UK methodology. Actual outcomes vary based on the specific facts of your case, the strength of evidence, and the negotiating position of the insurer. Treat the figure as a starting point — a specialist solicitor will give you a more precise figure after reviewing your evidence.

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Gavin Cooper

Gavin Cooper

Claims Expert, Claims Bible

Gavin writes and reviews Claims Bible's guidance on compensation claims. Claims Bible is a trading style of Forces Compare Ltd, authorised and regulated by the FCA for claims management activities (FRN 785329).

Updated 24 July 2026 · Part of our Personal Injury guide

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